TTC with PCOS (Thread #2)

[RoseBud2015]

If you have been diagnosed with PCOS and would like a small group of very friendly ladies in the same position as you to talk to, then this is the thread for you!

You can find our first thread >>>>>>>>> HERE

You can find the stats >>>>> HERE

dollface my bloods were normal too, but I had 3/3 of the Rotterdam criteria for diagnosis of pcos

If you had normal cycles before and you've only just come off the pill then sounds like you don't have no 1 of these - irregular or absent periods

No 2 of these is indications of hormonal imbalance - which can be either in bloods (which neither of us had) OR by external signs (eg acne, hirsutism - I had signs of acne, though my bloods were all normal)

No 3 is Polycystic ovaries on scan. If you have only this and neither 1 nor 2 as well, I'm not a Dr but sounds like that would make you PCO (which loads of women are) but not PCOS. Equally only 2/3 of the criteria are required for diagnosis - so it's possible to be PCOS without actually having polycystic ovaries!

That makes perfect sense thank you. I guess I will see how my period is this month as they are getting closer together again, so if that trends continues then I might be able to discount No1.

I'm going to see how my skin is over the next cycle, as I'm not really sure if a couple of period spots on my chin constitutes acne or not! At the mo my skin is clear (cycle day 4).

I'm most keen to get this follow up scan as I think that will tell a lot about the state of my cysts.

I have so much admiration for you ladies who can keep a cool head with all this health uncertainty! I feel like a looney!

doll face that sounds like things are going in the right direction for you! fx for a cyst-free scan

sooo my temps are still looking like I ovulated, but I had this before and it was bullshit I'll carry on temping but I'm not paying much attention to it anymore. I feel like losing weight is my silver bullet for this whole situation so I'm just gonna keep on keeping on

hope everyone is enjoying this weather!

Morning everyone!

Well feel about deflated and emotional after my appointment! Consultant told me iv to lose a stone before she will give me tablets!! She said she will send me for an X-ray to check my tubes... But to phone an book it on the first day of my period so it's booked for day 7... Considering I was on day 110 before AF showed last time!! Feel as though I'm getting nowhere fast!! Trying to lose weight and finding it a struggle!!

Sorry for the moan and groans! Hubby doesn't seem to understand or get why I'm feeling deflated!!

Xx

Oh shellbell that sucks! It's horrible to feel like you are on pause when all you want is for things to keep moving, especially when you feel weight loss is so slow. Sending you a hug.

Hello all,

I haven't been on for aaages as I've been crazy busy at work. I haven't read this new thread through but I hope everyone is okay. Great to see there are now 3 bfps! congratulations to Rosieblossom, Rufus and Abfab! There is hope for us all!

I'm feeling a bit rubbish at the mo - I don't think I ovulated this month and despite going to the gym and eating heathily (ish) I haven't really lost any weight. Currently on cd 27 and my cycles have been around 35 days recently. Also started taking inositol thanks to advice on the first thread but I seem to remember someone saying it takes a while for it to notice a difference. Anyone else tried anything new/different?

I had my HSG a couple of weeks ago and dh had his third sa this morning so I spent ages on the phone trying to get through to make a follow up appointment. I'm really happy that I got through and managed to get an appointment for next Thursday but I'm really worried about what they will say... I'm scared if dh's motility is still low they will say we won't have any chance of getting pregnant without ivf (I'd like to try clomid first but not sure it's an option...) or that I'm too fat (bmi is 32) for clomid. Sorry to be on a downer but I'm so fed up of ttc. I just want to be pregnant

I'm going to read through this thread from the beginning to catch up on what I've missed.

Hope you are all well.

Shorty K x

Mistletoe - Fingers crossed clomid will work for you this month.

Cobblestones - interesting article, thanks for the link. Also, what opks are you using? I don't recognise them and would be interested in purchasing some.

Chandeliers- thanks for posting your experiences with si. I have some and plan to use it next cycle. Hopefully it will work for us.

Atilla- I didn't realise there was such a thing as clomid resistance with pcos. This damn pcos definitely makes things more complicated!

Banana fish - Hello! Wow, you broke your back?! That sounds very painful. Has your rehabilitation been a long one? You sure sound like you take a lot if tablets! Good luck on your ttc journey. Hopefully it won't be long for you now you've finally got started.

Shellbell- congrats on af finally arriving! Great news! Let's hope your next one is not 100+ days!

Pebbles - Do you mind me asking what changes have you noticed on inositol and how long have you been taking it?

Isit- So,so sorry about you rubbish time at your appointment. You obviously made the right decision to stay and it's fab that you have so much clomid now! The doc you saw sounds really good. Do you mind me asking what he said about losing weight? My bmi is 32 and I'm worried they will just send me away and tell me not to come back until I've lost a couple of stone but I'm finding it so tricky...

Drew - Congrats on the new job! Fingers crossed you get a bfp soon. Sods law and all that.

Star - I had an hsg a coupe of weeks ago (by a male junior doctor no less... AWKWARD) and the actual procedure was not too bad. After the speculum was inserted they took a swab then injected the liquid. I then had some uncomfortable period-type stabbing pains but it only lasted about 30 seconds. I must say I couldn't get out there quick enough... It was obviously the junior doc's first procedure and I could tell he was embarrassed, which in turn made me embarrassed and it's not the most dignified of experiences anyway but it was just made 10 x worse. I wouldn't have minded so much if it was an old man, just not a guy in his early 20s who probably had a good giggle about it with his mates later on. I probably shouldn't have told you that but I'm sure yours won't be so bad!

Darn it! I've just read that you've had your hsg already but I'm not going to bother undoing my typing so apologies.

Dollface - Hello! Don't worry. I booed like a baby when I found out I had pcos. There are many things (drugs, life style changes, etc) that can change or lessen the symptom of pcos. It's hard but try to stay positive!

Rosebud - Sending you lots of hugs. Hopefully the 150mg will make a difference. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Keep us all updated.

I think I'm a little confused with inositol... How much are you meant to take each day? I've been taking 1000mg in the morning then another 1000mg in the evening. Should I up my dose?

Also, for those of you who are trying to lose weight, what are you doing?! I need help!

Sorry if I've missed people out or I'm talking about stuff that happened a couple of weeks back but I'm trying to catch up on so many posts!

Shorty K

X

Hi all!

Cobblestones how did your opk look today? Getting stronger lines again?

How about you mistletoes? Any progress with the opks today? Did you start the no-pants dancing as planned? lol

Shellbell DH and I have decided to leave 150mg clomid until after our holiday, but we plan to DTD a lot over the next month just in case my body decides to sort itself out and finally start ov'ing!!! A girl can dream!

Hey Stardust what dose of metformin are you currently on? How are you finding it? Glad to hear your HSG went well- I bet that's a relief! It may be worth phoning to see if you can get a cancellation to speak to your doc about the results? I did this for my initial consultants appointment and got one for 4 days time due to a last minute cancellation. Wouldn't hurt to try Phone early in the morning each day and see what they can do!

Ponty Thanks for the flowers! How are you feeling today? Any better?

Battenberg Yay for HSG being booked! Progress!

Shellbell I'm sorry to hear your bad news I can completely understand you feeling deflated..... it's so hard not to lose faith isn't it?! Is it worth looking to get a second opinion on the weight loss? I know some prescribe clomid if BMI is 30 or less and others if BMI is 35 or less...... may be worth a try?

ShortyK Well hellop stranger!!!! I was beginning to think you had abandoned us!!! I would up your dose of inositol to 4000mg- that's what the research studies seem to suggest is the optimum dose. Did your HSG results come back as being ok?

I was contacted by the fertility clinic today to say they needed to book me in for another scan because the doctor has spotted an abnormality on my scan picture (with my endometrium) from yesterday Phoned to make an appointment but they need to phone me back tomorrow. Can't believe another problem has been spotted- I feel so worried

Banana and Dollface What dose of SI are you both taking currently? I want to update the stats! How are you both finding them? x

ShortyK Hello! Thanks for having me, it’s lovely to ‘meet’ you all Yes I smashed up my coccyx and sacrum on a trampoline (well, the metal bar on the edge - back in the days before health and safety!) and had my tailbone surgically removed when I was 21. It took me several months before I was up and about walking properly, and I’m a lot better than I was. Unfortunately my freakishly long spine means my sacral stump is v prominent, so I sit on sharp bone, hence lots of painkillers and being bounced around consultants to work out a plan for if/when I get pregnant, and implications for pre-conception.

I do indeed take a LOT of tablets haha. I’m not expecting anything to happen until starting Clomid in a couple of months time, although obv I’m hoping my body will miraculously decide to lay an egg before then, haha. Really the next couple of months are, I suppose, more about tracking my temps, cervical fluid, to better understand my body so that I can see if and how anything changes when I start the Clomid.

Re: Inositol, all the studies I found trialled Inositol at a dose of 4g a day.So I take 4 x 500mg tablets in the morning, and another 4 in the evening - 2000mg twice a day (4000mg total). I need to avoid losing weight though, don’t want to fall back into underweight BMI range, so if I find that happening I’ll prob step down. But as far as the evidence goes, that seems to be the effective dose...

RoseBud2015 I took SI days 3-7, I took 135mg on CD 3 & 4, then stepped up to 150mg on CD 5. I had planned to take 150mg for CD 6 & 7, but found myself feeling rather nauseous and having hot flash...I was pleased to be having some kind of Clomid-esque side effect, as thought maybe it was doing something! However as I was going away for a wedding that weekend and didn't want to be a queasy, sweaty mess, I decided to step back down to 135mg for the remaining 2 days.

So CD3-7: 135mg, 135 mg, 150mg, 135mg, 135mg

In terms of how I'm getting on, we shall see! If my body magically decides it wants to lay an egg, maybe it did something, haha. I'm CD10 right now, so not expecting anything at all, but obv would be nice :)

I don't know when there will be a next cycle as no idea how long it will be till AF turns up, and if it doesn't, if I'll just 'reset' the clock and take another 5-day course. I'd prob try the 150mg but take it at night and see how I got on.

Rosebud how are you doing lovely? Thinking of you, and thanks for being such a wonderful hostess and doyenne of the stats sheet!

Hi ladies,
just checking in. I have skim read all your posts but will read properly tomorrow.

I'm feeling a bit down. I was trying to jot down some ideas on what to ask at my appointment on Friday. Getting a little upset at the same time. I then decide to give up for now and go on Facebook. Bad mistake. Pregnancy announcement. So that's made me feel even worse.

I am such a horrible person.

Thanks ladies!!

My consultant has said bmi under 30... Just a stone to lose. I know if I put my mind to it I can do it!! Just feels as though thing after another!! Now not speaking to hubby after his comment either!! Just not the best right now!!

Rosebud hope the deed helps this month on holiday!! It will, I'm sure!! Shorty nice to hear from you!!

Xx

Hi girls

So the ov stick went blank on monday and then dark on tues but I was hoping it would go even darker than this one so that it would be a definite positive. But it went back to light today... Which dh was relieved to see :D as the consecutive no pants dance (I like the term!) was getting too much for him haha
So I'm not too sure if this one counts but hoping the surge took place around tues so then I'd have it covered.

Someone asked about the sticks i use - I got them off amazon from home health UK called ultra early ovulation 20 mlu. They were the cheapest I could find that could be used midstream about £11 for 20 sticks

Forgot to attach!

rosebud I hope it's nothing serious and that the doc is just being extra cautious. It must be awful to have to wait

shorty I can't believe a young male doc did the hsg! Eeeeep I hope the all clear results come soon and make it worth the discomfort you had to experience

dollface a pcos diagnosis from just a scan is not enough nor accurate. Your bloods need to demonstrate the excess male hormones or the visual Impact ie acne, hair, weight gain etc. It's funny I didn't know this either till today when I met with the endocrinologist and when I came in here you and bananafish were having the same discussion

banana ouch! What you went through sounds so painful. Bless you. FX your ttc journey is shorter and easier xx

I wouldn't worry about it being a young male doctor Shorty, he was probably far more concerned about getting it right than any uncomfortableness (that's not a word) of the actual situation :) I'd hope by the time they are qualified enough to start faffing about in our lady bits that they have got past the stage of giggling when they see a foof. Welcome back! I hope your body does lay an egg soon :) Good that they are doing the necessary checks early on though.

How is everyone getting on? Lots of DTD I hope?

I got my HCG results back from Tuesday and they had gone from 1400 the previous Tuesday to 14,000 this Tuesday!!! Amazed. I'm having one more this afternoon to confirm it hasn't stopped growing before then, but I'm now feeling quite confident. Got my first proper scan next Wednesday where we'll hopefully see something (a blur and a heartbeat, if we're lucky!). The doctor has a 60in LCD TV on his wall that the scan images come up on. DH was drooling over it! I have a feeling he'll be wanting to accompany me whenever I go now because of that :)

Just popping in to see if Ab has been in to update....I'm really pleased your on the right route.

I will catch up with everyone a bit later.

CD14 here so just waiting to do today's OPK although they are definitely getting darker. Last cycle I had the peak on cd15 so we'll see what happens this cycle. To all others using OPKS I have never had a line as dark or darker than the control line but ovulation has been confirmed by blood tests. We are no pants dancing every other day at the moment, mostly because we're so tired and we'll continue that until about Sunday.

I'm seeing the consultant tomorrow morning.

ain, you are not a bad person, you are human. stay away from fb. it's evil and basically full of bullshit .

ab that's fantastic news!! please update us after you've had your scan

Rosebud2015 Thanks so much for the stat sheet it's really helpful and interesting.

This is my first cycle with SI. I started on CD2 with 150mg which I am continuing until CD5 and CD6 when I will up to 200mg.

Haven't had any side effects so far (CD5 today) but will keep you guys posted if I notice a change.

I didn't ovulate for the two cycles after coming off the pill but I did ovulate last cycle I believe (based on temps and af arriving as predicted) on CD27, so hoping the SI will a)make sure I ov this time again and b)bring ov forward!

Rosebud - What kind of scan did you have when they spotted the abnormality? Did you get another appointment? I know it's hard but try not to worry, it could be something quite minor and easily treatable. Think positive thoughts. It's better they picked up on it now rather than further down the line. I really hope it's nothing and am thinking of you.

I will definitely star taking 4000mg from now on. I don't have the results of my hsg yet because they said I had to wait for dh's sa results which he only did yesterday. I'll get the results at our follow up appointment next week. During the appointment the gynie overseeing the junior doc told me that the dye went in well and everything looked okay so fingers crossed.

Banana - Ow! Ow! Ow! I suffer from a little back pain but nothing compared to what you have described! You poor thing. It's great that the docs said you can start clomid soon and it sounds as though you are doing the right thing with temps and tracking cm. Hope your body lays and egg naturally.

Ain - you are not a horrible person! It's natural to feel that way and it's so bloomin hard when every other post is about pregnancies or babies. I guess we are at that sort of age. It's horrible and I get insanely jealous but it WILL be us some day (hopefully very soon).

ShellBell - I'm in the same boat as you and dh just does not seem to get it. Keep going with the weight loss. I know low gi is good for people with pcos but it seems to be a slow process. Think thin! And no more

Cobblestones. Thanks for the info. Opks ordered.

AbFab - Thanks. I hope all our bodies lay eggs soon. It's so exciting to hear about your upcoming scan. I bet everything is starting to seem real now. Will you get scan photos?

Morning everyone!

Ab that's great news, sounds like a strong healthy pregnancy to me!

Ain you're not a bad person, I deleted my Facebook a while ago for that same reason!

Rosebud I hope it's nothing serious, you must be worried, seems like one thing after another for you

Shellbell wow a stone seems like a lot to lose, as if things aren't hard enough!?

To everyone else hello and for the pg ladies!

I've found out that my hsg and gynae clinic is in the town where I live, so I'm really pleased about that, hopefully it will be a speedy process. I was hoping to be pg before my 30th birthday but as that's only 4 months away now I'm not sure it'll happen!

Shorty I should get the pictures emailed to me I don't expect to be able to see anything properly next week but it was quite cool seeing a dot of a yolk sac the other day.

I wish I could bring back a load of clomid for you guys! It's a fiver here and you can buy it over the counter! Of course, none of us are silly enough to take it un-monitored, but the idea would be good.